Sporting Kansas City was eliminated from MLS Cup contention after losing to Houston 2-1 aggreagate over the span of two games. They finished the year as US Open Cup Champions and a Kansas City team record of 63 points.

Whoa. I just love the fact that they aren't content to just stand pat with our roster due to the success we had last year. They realize there is room for improvement and are actively trying to get better. So unlike anything the Chiefs or Royals would do.

Sporting Kansas City announced Friday that midfielder Bobby Convey has been acquired from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for an international roster slot for 2012.

Convey, a United States international and a veteran of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, joins Sporting Kansas City after three seasons in San Jose where he was named as an MLS All-Star in both 2010 and 2011. To date, Convey has scored 11 goals and added 30 assists in 164 appearances in Major League Soccer.

“Bobby Convey has been a difference-maker in this League for many years, with experience at the highest levels of soccer,” Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes said. “His competiveness and attacking qualities stand out and we feel that he can thrive within the culture created at Sporting Kansas City. We are very excited to welcome Bobby to our club.”

Convey, 28, grew up in the Philadelphia area before becoming the youngest player ever to sign with Major League Soccer prior to the 2000 season, joining D.C. United at the age of 16. Convey went on to make 72 appearances for United before he turned 21, carving out a starting midfield role at the club level and earning his first cap for the U.S. Men's National Team at just 18 years old.

“I am very excited to link up with my new club and teammates,” Convey said on Friday. “The fans in Kansas City are extremely supportive of the team and create a great atmosphere in the new stadium. The team proved last year they are a good team that can win a bunch of games and I hope I can add to that success.”

Due to his standout performances in MLS and for the National Team, Convey drew interest from clubs overseas and eventually secured a move to Reading F.C. of the Football League Championship in England. In 2005, Convey enjoyed a breakout season for Reading, helping lead the club to the Championship title and promotion to the English Premier League the following season.

A skillful and dynamic left-footed player, Convey is comfortable playing any position on the left flank and even enjoyed a spell playing in the center of midfield for the San Jose Earthquakes when he returned to MLS in 2009.

It was with San Jose that Convey ultimately excelled as a defender, drawing rave reviews for his enterprising performances at left back in San Jose's unlikely run to the Conference Championship match during the 2010 MLS Cup playoffs that featured a two-goal outing against the New York Red Bulls in the Conference Semifinals. Convey's stellar 2010 season saw him tied for the league-lead in game-winning assists, as he was crowned MLS Comeback Player of the Year.

Decorated at the international level, Convey - along with the likes of Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Oguchi Onyewu - was part of the U.S. team that advanced to the semifinals of the 1999 FIFA Under-17 World Championship in New Zealand. A year later, Convey earned his first full international cap for the United States, coming on as a substitute against Mexico. In 2003, Convey not only captained the U.S. Under-20 team at the FIFA World Youth Cup in the United Arab Emirates, but he was also selected as part of the full U.S. squad that participated in the Confederations Cup in France.

In 2006, Convey was included in Bruce Arena’s 23-man squad that travelled to Germany for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Convey featured in all three group matches for the United States, earning starts against the Czech Republic and Italy, serving in the free kick that led to the equalizing goal for the U.S. against the eventual World Cup champions. To date, Convey has 46 caps for the United States.

I've always liked Bobbinho, and it's kind of sad to see him move on from the Quakes, but at the same time ehhhhhhhhhn. After the past offseason my expectations for the next few years plummeted, and nothing that's happened since has really inspired any hope (aside from the decent start to the season, followed by like 13 games without a win). The team needs so many changes, and Convey was unhappy, so whatever. I hope he does well as a Spork.

Also, I suddenly got the urge to watch supporters group videos to drive home how far MLS has come since I started following the league in earnest in 2004 (just in time to miss the Quakes' last MLS Cup win ever, lol), and I found this, so I had to share it with people.

So impressed by SKC, by the by. I hope San Jose can do half as well upon moving into their (probably not even half as nice) stadium next year. The relocation of one of the best teams in the league to Houston and then playing games at Buck Shaw after the rebirth have sucked a lot of the life out of the Quakes, honestly.

And it will never cease to incense me that AEG moved the Supporters Shield winners (and MLS Cup winners the next two seasons) to Houston because they could get a new stadium more easily in Houston, and now both San Jose and Houston are planning to open their new stadiums in 2012.